Atlanta to Boston: Quickest Route (Washington, Cecil: apartment, quality of life, living in)

[aries4118]

Hello Everyone (especially those with experience with the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic/New England Corridor)!

I'm moving to Boston in little less than a month and I'm looking for some advice/recommendations. Yes, I'll be driving.

I've done the East Coast I-95 thing several times in the past. But, I've recently learned from earlier threads that I-81 through Virginia and Pennsylvania is the best/quickest route (plus, I've never been this way...and I get to go through West Virginia for the first time!). However, I have a few questions once I reach central Pennsylvania:

To get to Boston, is it best to...

1. Take I-84 (from the Scranton area) through central New England on in to Boston?

-or-

2. Take I-80 or I-78 to the NYC Metro Area and then I-95 up into Boston?

*Any and all information and advice (traffic patterns, mileage, scenery, etc.) is welcome! Thank you in advance!



**Oh, one more thing...is it best to reach I-81 using I-77 (from Charlotte) or I-26 (from upstate South Carolina)???

[georgiaguy08]

Well its probably less miles if u take I-78 and go through NYC, but i dont know bad the traffic is in that area. It may take less time if u take I-84 since you dont have to drive through NYC and there won't be as much traffic. To reach I-81 it would be best to go through Charlotte using I-77. If you take I-26 you have to go through alot of mountainous areas and that can take a long time.

[BobKovacs]

I'd get to 81 via 75. Take 75 up to Knoxville, then take 40 across to 81- that will avoid the Charlotte traffic. From 81, the 84 trip will be less trafficy, but will be longer (not much)- it'll also be more scenic, so you may want to take that into consideration.

[wxjay]

Take I-84 from Scranton right up to the end of the route in MA, then take the Mass Pike over to Boston. It's the best route.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Hello Everyone (especially those with experience with the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic/New England Corridor)!

I'm moving to Boston in little less than a month and I'm looking for some advice/recommendations. Yes, I'll be driving.

I've done the East Coast I-95 thing several times in the past. But, I've recently learned from earlier threads that I-81 through Virginia and Pennsylvania is the best/quickest route (plus, I've never been this way...and I get to go through West Virginia for the first time!). However, I have a few questions once I reach central Pennsylvania:

To get to Boston, is it best to...

1. Take I-84 (from the Scranton area) through central New England on in to Boston?

-or-

2. Take I-80 or I-78 to the NYC Metro Area and then I-95 up into Boston?

*Any and all information and advice (traffic patterns, mileage, scenery, etc.) is welcome! Thank you in advance!



**Oh, one more thing...is it best to reach I-81 using I-77 (from Charlotte) or I-26 (from upstate South Carolina)???

First, you lucky baaastaard
Depends on where you are, if your close to I-85, then 85 to 77 to 81 to 84.
You will bypass all the large metro areas.
If you take 95 you must be careful of the times. Washington and N.VA is a real pain, think 85 Atlanta at rush hour, then NYC

You could take the NJTP to the Tapanzee, or stay 95 over the GW.
I prefer the lower level, a little nutty, but it seems faster as the trucks always take the upper. Also the 95 route is toll city.
Tolls at:
Baltimore Tunnel, MD
Cecil County Bridge, MD
Delaware Line
NJTP ouch!
GW Bridge ouch ouch!

The other way, no toll.

Good Luck, let me know if you need any locations for a sandwich.

[aries4118]

Hello georgiaguy08, Mr. Kovacs, wxjay, and Georgia...

Thank y'all for all of the above information! I've decided on a route and all of y'all's information was very helpful.

I'll be a "Bostonian" come mid-August...weird (but, I'm excited).

[Georgia]

Enjoy the Lobstah Rolls!
Also, get ready for the cost of living in the Boston area in comparison to Atlanta, however, the New England quality of life is grand.

[neil0311]

Don't take I-95 up from NYC to Boston.... Lot's of trucks and other commercial vehicles, plus an ugly drive. Get on the Hutchinson River Pkwy from I-95 and that will turn into the Merritt Pkwy at the CT line and then become the Wilbur Cross Pkwy a few miles later. No commercial vehicles allowed, gas and rest stops every few miles, and a nice tree lined drive with very few, if any, cops around. The WCP will dead end into I-91 south of Hartford. I-91 intesects with I-84 in Hartford and you take it all the way to the end and then the MA Pike on into Boston.

It sounds complicated, but it's not, and you'll have a much better (and shorter) ride. I did this drive many, many times, and I-95 always took me longer.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Don't take I-95 up from NYC to Boston.... Lot's of trucks and other commercial vehicles, plus an ugly drive. Get on the Hutchinson River Pkwy from I-95 and that will turn into the Merritt Pkwy at the CT line and then become the Wilbur Cross Pkwy a few miles later. No commercial vehicles allowed, gas and rest stops every few miles, and a nice tree lined drive with very few, if any, cops around. The WCP will dead end into I-91 south of Hartford. I-91 intesects with I-84 in Hartford and you take it all the way to the end and then the MA Pike on into Boston.

It sounds complicated, but it's not, and you'll have a much better (and shorter) ride. I did this drive many, many times, and I-95 always took me longer.

OK, thanks!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Enjoy the Lobstah Rolls!
Also, get ready for the cost of living in the Boston area in comparison to Atlanta, however, the New England quality of life is grand.

I already know about it...I've been bracing for it for a long time! You don't even want to know the cost of my apartment...!!!